Daily Lenten Devotion Friday, March 14

1 Corinthians 3:16-23 – 16Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? …. 18Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise.

Yesterday evening I had a meeting to attend in Willard, MO. On my way home I decided to stop at Walmart and pick up a few things, snacks for home and a snack for the drive home. Upon getting back to my car I opened the bag of Chex Mix so I could snack on it. I ate a little, then a little more, (it’s a smaller bag but not the smallest bag) and then still a little more. I tend to do this when bored or a snack bag is open. I ended up eating about 4 servings of the Chex Mix, simply by “snacking”.

I share that because our text reminds us that we are God’s temple and God’s Spirit dwells in us. If we believe this we should only put the best and finest in God’s temple, but I fill God’s temple with snacks I don’t really need, with television I don’t really need to watch but do and ….

Friends we are God’s temple and God’s Spirit dwells in us. What are you putting into God’s temple – your life, your body, your mind? What does God want to put in place of these? His word, His very presence, His very self. Open yourself up to God truly dwelling in you.

The Psalm for today and the Fridays of Lent is Psalm 22. I lifted this Psalm up last Friday. This Friday and the coming Fridays of Lent, I’m going to focus on a different aspect of this Psalm that relates to all that our Lord Jesus endured for us.

Psalm 22 – 7 All who see me mock at me;
they make mouths at me, they shake their heads;
8 “Commit your cause to the LORD; let him deliver —
let him rescue the one in whom he delights!”

Many times in the gospels we hear how our Lord was mocked by others, especially people with authority. It especially happened when he was arrested and put on trial. It happened also while he was on the cross. May we remember all Jesus endured for us, so that we could have the gift of salvation, eternal life and God dwelling within us.

O God, I’ve read many times how I am your holy temple. Yet, I still put things, thoughts within me that do not glorify you. Help me treat my body, my very self and my life better. May I put only the finest in your temple this day. May this be so also for all who trust and believe in you. Amen.